Sarah Palin has erased her drop in the polls that followed her resignation as Alaska governor, according to to new CNN poll out Monday.

Washington (CNN) - Sarah Palin has erased her drop in the polls that followed her resignation as Alaska governor, according to new national survey.

But when it comes to opinions of Palin, a CNN/Opinion Research Corporation poll released Monday suggests a partisan divide and a gender gap.

The survey indicates that Americans are split on Palin, with 46 percent saying they have a favorable opinion of her and an equal amount saying they have an unfavorable view of last year's Republican vice presidential nominee.

Palin resigned as Alaska governor in July, with a year and a half left in her first term. She attributed the decision to tremendous pressure, time and the financial burden of a litany of ethics complaints in the past several months, complaints Palin said were without merit and took away from the job she wanted to do for Alaskans.Related video: Public split on Palin

Following her resignation, Palin's favorable rating dropped to 39 percent in CNN polling, but her popularity is now back to the same level it was before she stepped down. The former governor is in the middle of a national tour for her best selling book, "Going Rogue: An American Life."

Eight out of ten Republicans questioned the survey have a favorable opinion of Palin, with more than seven in ten Democrats view her unfavorably. Independents are evenly divided on Palin. According to the poll, 51 percent of men see her in a positive light, with an nearly equal amount of women view Palin in a negative way.

"The gender gap on Palin is not simply a function of the fact that women tend to identify with the Democratic party more than men do," says CNN Polling Director Keating Holland. "Even within GOP circles, Republican men like Palin more than Republican women do. John McCain put Palin on his ticket in 2008 to appeal to female voters, but it looks like men are a natural constituency for her."

How does the first female vice-presidential major party candidate in more than two decades compare to recent vice presidents?

"Palin is still not as popular Al Gore and remains more unpopular than Joe Biden, but her favorable rating is much higher than Dick Cheney's," adds Holland.

Palin's book tour brought her to Iowa on Sunday. With the former Alaska governor considered a possible contender for the 2012 GOP presidential nomination, attention has been sparked by her visit to Iowa, site of the first event on the presidential calendar. Long lines of people have waited hours to see Palin during many stops of her nearly month long book tour.

The CNN/Opinion Research Corporation poll was conducted December 2-3, with 1,041 adult Americans questioned by telephone. The survey's overall sampling error is plus or minus 3 percentage points.

soundoff(300 Responses)

It just goes to show you: at least 46% of Americans are flat out stupid. You Betcha!

December 7, 2009 12:21 pm at 12:21 pm |

Chris (Buffalo, NY)

Even Republicans should realize that it would be insanely dangerous to place control of the nuclear button in the hands of someone who, according to a Fox News report, did not know that Africa was a continent.

December 7, 2009 12:21 pm at 12:21 pm |

gl, From Pittsburgh

I don't care about her polls, she is still not Presidential. CNN at it again with their love for Sara Palin.

Palin is still not as popular Al Gore and remains more unpopular than Joe Biden, but her favorable rating is much higher than Dick Cheney's," adds Holland.

ANYBODY CAN BEAT CHENEY RATINGS!

December 7, 2009 12:21 pm at 12:21 pm |

Eleanor

I find CNN's reporting on this highly suspect!! In fact, I would call it RUBBISH! Palin is a moron, and 80% of America knows it and would never vote for her for the position of dog catcher...or moose exterminator, much less the most powerful office in the most powerful country in the world. This is flat out BUNK! Don't believe everything you read on CNN....or any place else for that matter.

December 7, 2009 12:22 pm at 12:22 pm |

Bryan

What are you trying to prove by this poll? That Americans are really that stupid? Anybody who thinks she's qualified for anything is a bit dumb. This coming from someone who would have voted for McCain if he had nominated anybody else other than this radical rightwing nutjob. She's from the only part of the political spectrum that I can't stand as an independent. I don't believe we should legislate morals like these people seem to think should happen, not everyone has your morals, deal with it. I will never vote Republican again until the party tells these nutjobs that they have no place in their party and let them go. But sure, go have her as your next candidate in 2012, it'll be the first electorial college shut out...Obama 540, Palin 0. Well maybe she'll get the racist South like last election. But there's nobody else worst to run for President as a Republican, well other than Chaney. Stop reporting on her, nobody cares.

December 7, 2009 12:24 pm at 12:24 pm |

ptarmigan

Please; she doesn't even know the definition of the title for her own book...

December 7, 2009 12:24 pm at 12:24 pm |

Women have eyes

the reason men like her obvious....body like G.I Jane brains like Barbie..Women don't have rose colored glasses

December 7, 2009 12:25 pm at 12:25 pm |

PEC

Obama's Disapproval at 50% same poll. Within MOE Sarah and Obama.

December 7, 2009 12:25 pm at 12:25 pm |

Lisa Weiss

Sarah a popular cheer leader for the conservative party.
I think she has nothing to offer in Washington.
Her skill set and sophistication is lacking realistically speaking for DC.
Palin will never be a Hillary Clinton.
She might be well versed in Biblical terms but that is it.
That does not qualify her to lead a country.
It is clear her impulsiveness and lack of education would be a disaster for the country.
Kinda like Bush.

December 7, 2009 12:26 pm at 12:26 pm |

FM

Hey CNN, few weeks ago you did a poll and 60 per cent said she is not qualified to be a president. Now you are coming with a favorable poll. Favored to do what????

December 7, 2009 12:26 pm at 12:26 pm |

Al Gore Fan

The poll must be wrong. Global warming will get her in the end so it doesn't matter anyway.

December 7, 2009 12:26 pm at 12:26 pm |

Rook_Cville

You have got to be kidding. 46% favorable rating - how and why? I get that there are conservatives out there but this woman is a joke! I am baffled.

And Cheney at 39% has the American public got that short a memory that we have forgottten what this man and his partner in crime did to this country?

Of course in the words of Ron "Jaws" Jaworski when he was asked about being benched as the Eagles QB and replace with Randall Cunningham - I believe. "I okay with it. The last quarterback is always the most loved man in Philly."

December 7, 2009 12:27 pm at 12:27 pm |

Cat, Holt, Mo

Just goes show how many dim wits there are out there. Anyone, anyone who thinks this moron, is someone to listen too, has rocks for brains. But since she has rocks for brains maybe that explains it.
Come people, your much smarter than that. She is an idiot, who does not know her butt from a hole in the ground. She uses her kids a props and is a mean mouth trouble maker. She her packing back to Alaska, sorry, Alaska, I know you do not really want her back either.

December 7, 2009 12:27 pm at 12:27 pm |

howie

We have a lot of faith in this young lady and what she can do for us, go Sarah! Don't let the jealous liberals bother you, they are in the minority

December 7, 2009 12:27 pm at 12:27 pm |

Susan

She is a non-entity and you(CNN) have given to much voice to this irrelevent person, Susan from Florida

December 7, 2009 12:27 pm at 12:27 pm |

Willy Brown

Can you say ma'am President? I thought you could ;>

December 7, 2009 12:29 pm at 12:29 pm |

Tania

favorable for what? what is she running for? what is her program - and for what? what does she stand for? can she articulate any of it?

what did McCain unleash on us?

December 7, 2009 12:29 pm at 12:29 pm |

B Lewis in Austin

Will her intellect go up with the polls?

December 7, 2009 12:30 pm at 12:30 pm |

HBO

This is good. Go ahead and nominate her for GOP presidential candidate now and avoid the rush. The current administration could also save a lot of time and money campaigning as well.

Has any presidential candidate ever won all 50 states?

December 7, 2009 12:31 pm at 12:31 pm |

Beverly in NC

Why is anyone polling on Palin?

She is still an extremist who spreads hate, racism, and lies. She is still dumb as dirt. Only the lunatic Republican nutjobs care what idiotic statements she makes on issues she doesn't even understand.

God, please stop torturing the majority of America with this irrelevant loser. Leave Palin to the fools at FOX.

December 7, 2009 12:31 pm at 12:31 pm |

Bob Pacific Grove, Ca

What a sad commentary for America.....When a loser and a quitter is put on a pedestal by an adoring public who value her looks more than her brains, you know we are all in deep, deep trouble as a nation.....

December 7, 2009 12:31 pm at 12:31 pm |

Republicans is smart in the head area

She's popular with idiots. Unfortunately there are quite a few in the US. They're called Republicans.

December 7, 2009 12:31 pm at 12:31 pm |

American Expaat

I hope her popularity gets even better...in fact, good enough for 2012. The Democrats really need someone like her to win by a landslide! And better yet, if she chooses Glen Beck as a running mate. Or, maybe even Lou Dobbs. Either combination will insure a resounding victory...for the Democrats.

December 7, 2009 12:31 pm at 12:31 pm |

Economist

Your poll is an outlier. There's simply no way that almost half of Americans have a favorable view of Mrs. Palin. We're not that stupid.